Life's Wicked Curve Ball

I owe all of you the deepest of apologies! My life has been in an upheaval and I'm trying to straighten it all out while keeping my sanity.

My marriage of 20 years has ended. No sympathies, please, this was a mutual decision and we're both okay with it all. Our journey through this life together has come to an end and we intend to stay as friendly as we can. There are a few hard feelings, but we're dealing with them. 

This means that while I love to write and put books out for all of you, I had to get a job that pays on a steady basis. I'm working steady and still going to school full-time. I've decided that I really want to be a teacher so I'm studying elementary education along with minoring in English and Women's Studies. 

I have the edits for the third book sitting on my computer. I just need to find time to go through it with a fine-tooth comb. I had the intention of putting this book out before the year's end. I just couldn't do it, not with everything happening.

The stress also has me taking a break from writing for a little bit. I have discovered that I cannot do everything at once. So, I'm doing what I can which right now entails working, school, and working on finding a place to live.

I ask you to bear with me as my life keeps evolving and growing into something beautiful and wonderful.

I'm going to try and keep you up to date more often, I promise. 

My love to each and every one of you!!!

I Am So Bad At This...

I was chatting with my little sister this morning and realized I hadn't blogged in a long time. Over a month to be exact! I am so sorry!!

I wish I could say I have been busy writing your favorite characters and creating new stories for you, but school is kicking my backside this semester. Algebra is my nemesis and I have no idea how to conquer it. It doesn't help that my mind is on other things 99% of the time either. I just can't seem to wrap my brain around all the stuff Algebra entails.

As for my books, well, I can tell you that I'm working on a series about a coven of witches set in the U.P. The first book is going to be dark and there are days it scares me how dark I can go. My mind is a twisted place, let me tell  you. Slate is one of those guys who makes a woman sit up and drool, then she gets to know him. That's when her heart falls head over heels in love with him because at the core of Slate is this passionate man who is scared of being hurt. Abby has been hurt and abused. She's a mama with a beautiful little girl who was hurt by her father. Both of these wounded souls are under Slate's protection and in his heart. This is one of the hardest stories for me to write simply because I've seen where it goes and it's going to be a long hard road for Abby, Slate, and Trinity. I can only promise the reader that it will tear your heart out, rebuild it, and make you believe in love again.

I'm also writing the fourth Cedar River series book. This one is going to take the readers away from the Goldens (slightly) and show you some of the other residents of our beautiful town. I know everyone loves the dragons, but there are people who live on the rougher side of town. You'll get to know the Black boys and their mother as well as Gideon (who is introduced in The Golden Dragon's Treasure). They are as different as night and day when compared to the Golden boys and I love them. Avery, Oliver, and Beckett are troublemakers and walk a fine line between good and bad. They drink and fight, but they fight for the women they love. That is something that matters to me. Each of these otter shifters has picked their women already. They've surprised me with their choices, but I am game if they are. They didn't choose skinny women. They didn't choose women who are weak. They chose women with curves and backbones of tungsten. 

So, this is what I've been up to lately. I'm trying to keep up with all of you, trust me. My life is in chaos as I try to move into the next phase of my life which is going to be HUGE, but like Slate and Abby's, it will be worth the climb to get there.

Music Soothes the Writer's Soul

Music has been a huge part of my life. From singing along with the radio to dancing with my dad in our kitchen, music feeds me in a way other things can not.

I have a pretty eclectic choice of music going on most days. From Southern Rock to Latin and Celtic music to rock and classic rock, it depends on the day and my mood. My Youtube playlist would scare most people with the odd and random music you can find there. 

As most of you know, there are changes coming this year. Some are very hard and personal. Others are professional. I'm trying my hand at writing all sorts of new things. One of the things I just started is a horror. Let me tell you, I had to find the darkest depths of my soul to go there. It required me turning to music I probably wouldn't normally listen to and reaching for the darkness. The story is draining me, but it is something that needs to be written so it doesn't continue to haunt me as it has for the last 10 years.

When I was finished writing for the day, I had to curl up with Michael Buble, Christ Botti, and Celtic Thunder in the hopes of bringing myself back from the edge. (A silly message from a dear friend helped pull my spirit out of the darkness, too.) 

So, let me tell you about my current playlists for the books I'm working on. With the new Cedar River series, I've got a lot of Lynyrd Skynrd, Eric Clapton, Santana, John Mayer, and Bob Segar playing when I work on that. With my two new series, I've got one character who loves Frank Sinatra and the whole Rat Pack era. The other series is all 80s romance. (Don't ask because I have no idea. This heroine doesn't necessarily believe in romance so why this is the playlist is just as much my guess as yours.) The horror I'm working on has some Motorhead, Danzig, Rammstein, etc. playing. (I know I'm weird.)

Tell me about your favorite bands. Who do you love to listen to and why? I'm curious. Who knows? One of your favorite songs may end up in one of my books :)

Livin' La Vida Loca

For some reason Livin' La Vida Loca is stuck in my head. I'm well aware I'm dating myself when I share that, but I'll even go one step further...I remember when Ricky Martin was in Menudo. 

Anyway back La Vida Loca...my life is very crazy at the moment. With the edits for The Golden Dragon's Treasure, heading back to college, thinking about what I really want to focus on education/career wise (because face it, I need a day job), plus my chaotic life in general...well, you can see why this song suits me :)

I read an article the other day how I should pick a subject and keep my blog simply about that. Like I should only blog about my books and being an author. *frowns* I'm so much more than just an author. I'm a canine mom. I'm an editor. I'm a student. I'm a friend. I'm an author. I'm a woman. I wear so many different hats in a 24 hour period so why should I choose one subject for my blog? 

Some of my favorite authors blog about their crazy lives. From their kids to their writing to their spouses, I love reading about how absolutely normal they are. I hope you feel the same way.

My journey is changing. My writing is growing into something new every day. I love seeing these changes taking place. I'm evolving into the woman I was always meant to be.

For those who have been asking, Silver and Brady's story is almost ready. I'm working with my editor to make it as perfect as possible before I put it out in the world. I've got Book 4 that I'm working on plus a few more surprises for you. I'm busy. I promise you that. I do take a little downtime for myself, but not this weekend! This weekend is all about edits :)

I hope everyone has a happy Labor Day weekend! Please be safe! I like drinking as much as anyone, but please don't drink and drive or drink and boat. I'd miss you too much if you weren't here!

Heather Geoffries and South Sea Siren

I am a very lucky woman and I will tell you that all day long. I have the pleasure of meeting some incredible authors and I get to call so many of them my friends. Heather Geoffries is one of those people. They are a talented duo and I can't get enough of their stories!

Thank you for having me on your blog today Gemma!

Logline: ~Don’t try to figure love out. Love just is. There is no explanation. It doesn’t make sense and it wouldn’t matter if it did. Just let it happen and the rest will work itself out.~

Today I wanted talk about our(me and my husband’s—we are Heather Geoffries) new book out through Champagne Books Aphrodite Island series.

“South Sea Siren” is an F/FM BDSM erotic romance that follows Amanda Mills on her fantasy tropical vacation where she runs into some things that she might not know how to deal with.

This book is sort of an unofficial sequel to our first book “Nordic Prince”, which is about Steven Mills and his erotic cruise. It is also where Amanda first debuted. After I wrote that book, I was really curious about Steven’s brash and sassy sister. I thought You know, I bet there is more to her than meets the eye. She seems like this fun, flirty, party-girl but she is also, clever and a good sister.

So, me and hubby put our heads together and Amanda and Kierna came sauntering onto the pages and they brought a friend, Michael. (Shhh---I’ll tell you a secret…there is a story about Michael in the works also.)

I’ll give you a little blurb and excerpt.

Blurb: 

Amanda Mills knows how to have a good time and when she goes to Aphrodite Island she plans to embrace her naughty side but when her current squeeze turns out to be a creep she winds up alone on her romantic getaway. Then she sees Kyrna walk out of the ocean like Venus and is blown away. All of her charm and charisma fly out the door when flirting with the lithe redhead. As they delve into a steamy romance, Amanda realizes that she is in way over her head. Now she must decide whether to take a chance at love and trust or keep playing the game.

Excerpt:

Sucking in her breath, her gaze flew to the water, which bubbled and turned. Every Jaws movie she’d ever seen came to mind and she waited anxiously to see if she’d be eaten by a shark. Can they come up on the beach? She began to back up, but when the water parted and a woman, surely Venus, rose from the tide.

Breathless, she pushed back her thick ebony hair, which blocked her view. She could not tear her gaze away from the naked and beautiful Goddess who walked toward her.

Pale skin shimmered and glowed in the dim light, as if her flesh was made of ethereal moon luminosity. Pert breasts, small round globes, would fit in Amanda’s hand perfectly. Hard nipples, pebbled from the cool wind licking them, made Amanda wish she could lick them, too. Tall and nubile, the woman’s rich auburn hair fell in a cascade down to the small of her back. Her nether curls, trimmed into a cute heart shape, matched the vibrant color. Long legs carried her out of the surf and her green cat eyes never wavered from her face. Her pale lips quirked up in the corners with a secret little smile. The overall effect was stunning.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting with my readers, Heather! You are such a tease :) I can't wait to see what Michael is up to now. 

Heather is giving away 2 e-copies of South Sea Siren to 2 people who leave a comment :)

Ella's Turning What? Blog Hop

Ella Jade is celebrating her birthday by giving away presents to YOU! The grand prize is a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) gift card, but all of the 107 bloggers participating in this lovely blog hop are offering prizes. 

When I signed up for this blog, Ella asked that we blog about a special birthday memory, a special gift, or something along that line. I didn't have to think too hard about my special birthday memory. It was the year I turned 4.

  

I should probably start off by telling you I was the only granddaughter. My family had high hopes that I would be the girly girl they all wanted. Hahaha, the joke was on them. I'm a tomboy princess.
Birthdays were a big deal in my family. My uncle and his family would gather with my grandparents and my parents for a big meal for each birthday. My grandma used to make us these beautiful cakes. (This one was chocolate with peanut butter chocolate frosting with ballerinas on top. Yes, I still remember the flavor of that frosting...years later.)

I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to hand a 4 year old a knife that size, but here I am. LOL (That's my daddy sitting beside me. Don't you love those mutton chop side burns?)

My dad was a volunteer fireman. He served with some amazing men. If they weren't family, they were very dear friends. One of my dad's friends loved to tease me mercilessly and I adored him. When Bill found out it was my birthday, he decided to crash my birthday party. As we were finishing up our dinner, Bill drove by in one of the big firetrucks and got on the loudspeaker of the truck. "HAAAAAAAPPPPPPYYYY BBBBIIRRRRRTTHHHHDDDAAAAAYYYY!" rang through the soft summer air...scaring the bejesus out of one little girl who immediately burst into tears.





This is the reason I look so somber in this picture. 

Okay, I may have been a little angry as well. I mean, my whole family laughed because they thought it was funny. I was not amused.

Bill made sure to apologize to me when he saw me next. "Sweetie, I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I didn't mean to scare you." It took a big man to apologize to a 4 year old little girl.

Looking back, I don't remember the gifts I received or what food was eaten (though it looks like burgers and picnic foods), but I remember the cake and the unusual birthday wish from a very special man.

How many other little girls have gotten a birthday wish like that? Is it any wonder I love firemen like I do? *grin*

Now it's your turn:
Tell me about the most unusual birthday wish you ever received.

The winner will receive an e-copy of both Keeper of the Golden Dragon's Heart and Natural Born Enemies.

Happy Birthday, Ella!!! I hope it is the best birthday ever! I appreciate being able to be a part of your celebration :)

A Small Town Girl Comes Home...

Would you like to hear something funny? Most of you know I grew up as a farmer's daughter, but did you know how desperately I wished to get out of that little town?

I lived 15 minutes away from the downtown area of our small town. I had cousins who lived next door and my grandparents weren't 5 miles away. Our neighbors knew us (and didn't hesitate to tattle to my parents if I did something wrong). I always felt like Country Mouse when we went into town. It was an event. My mother would take time to curl her hair and make sure her make-up and clothes were just right.

As I got older, small town was a little bit more fun. Cruising main street was the thing to do. People from even smaller towns would come in and I met some of the greatest people. We had fun, went muddin', laughed, and got in trouble. After all, what else is there to do in a small town? But I dreamed of getting out of this small town and moving onto bigger and better things.

I left just after high school and moved to Long Island, New York to be a nanny. Life got in the way and I had to go back home. I stayed in the same area, moving to a smaller town after I got married. In 2004, we moved to a town that was, well, let's just say it wasn't ideal :) Drug dealers were my neighbors and more than once the cops had to be called. We moved to a little tiny town into a house that I loved so much. It was a perfect setting. 

We got bored and moved onto a town just outside of Tulsa, OK. It was a small housing community, but a big enough town. But it wasn't enough. There was something missing. We moved back to Michigan and stayed with my dad in a small town. It threw me off for the longest time. For 6 years, I had lived in anonymity. Now, neighbors would stop by and say hello or have a beer with Dad. I liked it, yet I still felt out of my element.

We left Dad's and moved to the U.P. (Yeah, I know! Quit laughing!) But guess what? I love my small town. Do you want to know why? Because when I go to the store, I run into people I know. I go to get groceries and the cashiers know who I am. People sitting on their front porches wave as you drive by. I step onto my college campus and I have friends there. Just yesterday, I was leaving what they call a mall here and ran into a friend from school. We stood outside chatting about summer and upcoming classes. It felt good! At the beginning of summer, I stopped by the beach to dip my toes in the water. A woman was walking her dog on the beach. Her little girl came up and took a hold of my hand before she, too, dipped her toes in the water. I saw this little girl in the store the other day and she remembered me. She kept waving at me from her mother's shopping cart. I smiled and said "Hello" to her. My heart was a little lighter. Only in a small town can a complete stranger become a new friend.

Come visit Cedar River and experience small town living at its best! Have week filled with blessings and joy!